Hungrycat7

So I own a 2000 GA GT. . . It has 120,000 miles on it and the front end sounds like it needs a lot of work. My main problem is when I get on the gas too hard from a stop. If I give it to much gas it sounds like the car is about to rattle apart. Also it is hard to explain but it feels like the front end is bouncing up and down. Also when I turn the wheel to the right under 10mph there is a loud "clunk" noise. I spoke to my teacher (automotive technology) and he thought maybe one or more of the bushings were bad. Just wondering what everyone thinks. Oh and also I just replaced both tie rod ends so I know they are good. Thanks in advance!

xeroinfinity

The rattle hard to say...
Though the bouncing is most likly a bad strut or weak/broken spring. Which is you drive with bad struts long enough, it will cause your springs to become weak and bouncy.

Clunking, sounds more like a CV joint , though some newr GA's have had troubles with lower control arm bushings.

__________________
1999 Grand Am SS & Grand Am GT 3.4 OHV


Who'd ever thought the "G" in GM would stand for Government Motors.

Hungrycat7

Thank you for your response! Is there any way you can tell if the strut is bad or good? Or do you just have to replace it and hope that is the problem?

xeroinfinity

Oh yeah you check them, if they are leaking any fluids thier bad. If the shaft under the plastic boot , top of strut, is rusty its bad. Just by pushing the front end down by hand, if it bounces more then 1-2 they are probly bad.

It is quiet possible you have a spring broke and that's whats clunking. The 1999-2001's have some crappy springs IMO.
You can visualy inspect them too, they tend to break the ends off, top or bottom (but not both that I've ever seen) usualy fronts too.

KYB GR2 makes some after market struts that are very good and last time I checked were cheaper then an OEM strut.

__________________
1999 Grand Am SS & Grand Am GT 3.4 OHV


Who'd ever thought the "G" in GM would stand for Government Motors.

Will Help

Tortion bars and bushing bolts are weak on these. Bolts break and the bar starts flopping up and down into the control arm. Causes lots of noise.

Hungrycat7

Well sounds like I have a lot of things to check! I just wanted to thank everyone for your wisdom!

Will Help

Keep us informed on what you find. Others with the same problem may read this and any feed back you can provide is priceless.